A different kind of jones

**Nick** · 4th October 07, 03:00 AM

Hello all,

Haven't been able to get on much, but I'm taking a bit of a break at the moment.

I've been to the Royal Armouries a few times, which to me is a bit like walking around Heaven. My focus is the arms and armour of the 14th century, and the RA has a truly fantastic collection.

They've also got a blacksmithing and armouring shop. Last time in I went and watched a demo, and smelling the coal smoke and hearing the ring of the anvil and seeing the sparks fly has really renewed my jones for the forge. It was a hard thing for me to pack up my shop (mostly just closing it up, but I put my favorite and best tools in storage). Since I deal with metal in my studies pretty much every day, and am also interested in the development of metalwork for the entire of the medieval period, I've had the forge on my mind.

I'll have to go back to the RA forge a lot. A PhD student here also knows a gent with a forge in the area, so maybe I can find someone who would be willing to let this displaced smith work on occassion. Besides that, I'm thinking I may need to make a couple mock-ups to do some tests on. Lots of things going on, lots of possibilities, and I've just started!

Cheers,
Nick

**BEEDEE** · 4th October 07, 06:06 AM

Nick - I totally agree with you on the Royal Armories collection which I have visited several times. And to think that all that had been in storage at the Tower of London for all those years! Hopefully you will also get a chance to travel to Paris - the collection at the Musee de l'Armee at Les Invalides is worth seeing as well.

And as a father of a PhD student who graduated a few years ago, I know how much time and personal sacrifice goes into studying at that level. Best wishes to you. Let us know when you publish anything and hopefully we can get a link to read the work. I am sure I am not the only one interested in your field of study.

Brian

**sorcererdale** · 4th October 07, 06:19 AM

And here I thought it was jonesing for your wife. Did she get there yet? Do you have a place to live? At least let me know what is going on.

DALE.

**Nick** · 4th October 07, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by sorcererdale

And here I thought it was jonesing for your wife. Did she get there yet? Do you have a place to live? At least let me know what is going on.

DALE.

That sort of trancends the definition of "jonesing". She'll be here on the 9th, getting closer! I found a place to live, too, it's in a little pocket of green in Leeds. Sorry I've been out of touch, but I haven't had much time for anything outside of Latin and the like.

Brian, I do hope to get to Paris in addition to several other places with collections outside the Isles. I don't know if I'll be able to in the course of my MA (hopefully I can), but when I do my PhD I definitly will.

Cheers,
Nick